Historical society's Heritage Award dinner set for May

Sunday

Apr 27, 2008 at 2:00 AM

The Falmouth Historical Society's annual Falmouth Heritage Award dinner is a harbinger of spring and things to come as well as that which has already taken place.

The Falmouth Historical Society's annual Falmouth Heritage Award dinner is a harbinger of spring and things to come as well as that which has already taken place. As many of us know and concur, this group is one we share a great deal of pride in, as it represents all that we are and have been since the town's earliest days.

The dinner begins at 6 p.m. May 14 at Coonamessett Inn. It will start with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar followed at 7 p.m. by dinner and the program.

The cost is $65 per person. Reservations should be made by May 8 by calling the FHS, at 508-548-4857.

I understand, from a couple of people involved with the play, that the cast and crew of the Falmouth Theatre Guild's "Pirates of Penzance" are having lots of fun in staging this well-known operetta. I believe this is the guild's first production of a Gilbert and Sullivan work. The show opened at Highfield Theater Friday and will continue through May 11. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

Laura Garner, once again, sits comfortably in the director's chair, accompanied by music director Geraldine Boles and choreographer Michele Colley-Whittier.

Tickets are $15, with a $3 discount for students and seniors. Reservations may be made by calling 508-548-0400.

Getting back to the historical society for a moment, this year's Katharine Lee Bates Poetry Contest has been launched. There are two divisions — one for students in grades K-12 and another for adults.

Contestants may submit up to three unpublished original poems on any subject. Winners will be awarded a cash prize and a gift certificate, and their poems will be featured in the Katharine Lee Bates Poetry Fest booklet. The authors will also have the chance to read their winning entry at the Fest on Aug. 6.

Entry forms are available at the society's offices or call 508-548-4857 to request one by mail. They may also be obtained at any branch of the Falmouth Public Libraries, Woods Hole or West Falmouth libraries, or at Falmouth schools and Falmouth Academy. Deadline to enter is May 16.

Daffodil Days at the beautiful Spohr Gardens gives local folks the chance to see for themselves the treasure this special place holds. The celebration started yesterday and will take place again 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

There will be thousands of daffodils in bloom as well as guided tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., children's games and a small boutique.

The Cape Cod Center for Women is planning its second annual golf tournament at 1 p.m. June 2 at Ballymeade Country Club. This fundraiser will include a barbecue, prizes, raffle and silent auction. Proceeds will benefit this organization, which provides emergency shelter, food and clothing to victims of domestic violence and their children.

Registration forms are available online, at www.capecodshelter.org, and must be submitted by May 15.

The cost is $150. Non-golfers may attend the dinner and auction for $60.

Taking the leadership role in an organization such as the Samaritans takes a person of many qualities. Betty Rice, executive director of this agency for five years, has been such a person. She was honored by her colleagues earlier this month for increasing the capacity of calls the Samaritans can handle to more than 17,000 per year.

The new leader is Maura Wilson, who has been vice-president of the organization's board and has also served at the Falmouth Service Center. Best of luck to Maura.

Bits and pieces ... I had a soft spot for Darryl Barrows ever since I came to know him during his days as a waiter. I had kept track of him through the years via his mother, Grace, and his mother-in-law, Marcia Moore. His sudden death at age 45 was a shock to his family, children, friends and to all who knew him. My sympathy goes out to them ... soon after the opening of Heathers last August, word rapidly spread that this was an exceptional place to dine in every way, from the ambiance to the food. Friends of mine had to wait two weeks this winter to get a reservation on a Saturday night. After the opening of the Community Health Center, a friend and I stopped in for an appetizer and a beverage. I was impressed. On my second visit last weekend, I came away still impressed. First of all, I hadn't known the co-owner was Matt Connolly, whom I remember so well from his days at Coonamessett in 1986. He is still as jovial and friendly as he was then. The bartender, Kevin Melley, is just what you wish for — attentive, helpful and above all very personable. My trips to Heathers will be limited as is my driving, but only for that reason as well as for my loyalty to our town.

Happy birthday wishes to the still lovely-looking lady, Estelle Keating ... one of my favorite beauticians for years, Gloria Joseph ... a likable businessman, Don Fleet ... Wanda Wobecky, with her sense of humor ... Barbara St. George, you have an amazing daughter ... once very helpful to me, Paul Driscoll ... part of my number-one group at one time, Pauline Fox ... so well-liked, and rightfully so, Dana Miskell ... named for one of Falmouth's longtime physicians, Edwin Prescott Zylinski ... one of the fortunates, who never changes, Booje Calfee ... wears the greatest smile, Elaine Babineau ... one of our popular teachers, Linda Genest ... Mark Patton is known to have kindness in his soul ... Marie Johnson, a woman blessed with so much goodness ... welcome when he makes an occasional return to Falmouth, Gene Maddocks ... bet this gal with the sunshine tag is still wearing it, Irene Vaughan ... this gentleman has the art of giving back, George Botelho ... such a friendly bank teller, Jane Ignos ... Jane Frye is someone I haven't seen for some time ... two super fine youngsters that have crossed my path, to my good fortune, Andrew and Ellie Williamson ... Pat Riley has those enviable cheekbones ... so instrumental in building Falmouth Academy into what it is today, Bruce Buxton ... and hats off to this mighty fine and true gentleman, Murray Rosen.

Also ... one of the "Mr. Nice Guys," Bob Allietta ... an expert when it comes to shoes, Judy Harvey ... one half of a super pair, Dianne Lynch ... photography is her forte, Carolyn Neal ... met her just a single time, Barbara Murray ... lifelong North Famouthite, Shirley Phares ... "Mr. Conference Table," himself, Steve Doudican, and his really nice missus, Beth Doudican ... the live wire of Wise Living, Janice Bacon ... I saw Jane Mahoney when she was first in nurses' training ... I always smile when I see Jim Bradshaw on his bike ... should be having a more leisurely life now, Diane Etler ... his wit is the tops, Jimmy Kowalski ... bright, bright lady, Hilda Knapp ... Peg Freeman has that stunning regal look ... wish Dodie Stone the best ... the soft-spoken Jim Bowen ... a man with a great deal of heart, I am told, Jack Longo ... an electrician at a major institution, Chip LeBlanc ... once a North Falmouth resident, Paul Flynn ... rarely see Chuck Mitchell ... and a smart gal who became a lawyer of goodwill, Amy Ferreira.

Kitty Baker retired after 35 years as a reporter and office manager in the Times' Falmouth bureau.